36 Flights Canceled After Scissors Go Missing At Airport

A missing pair of scissors led to 36 flights being canceled and 201 delays at a New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan, over the weekend, BBC.com reports.

Security checks at the domestic terminal were suspended for about two hours Saturday (August 17) morning after the pair of scissors went missing from a store located near the boarding gate, leading to huge bottlenecks and queues as passengers who were already in the departure lounge were forced to go through security checks again. Security checks and flights eventually resumed on Saturday and the missing scissors were located at the same store on Sunday (August 18).

Hokkaido Airport, the operator of New Chitose Airport, publicly announced that the scissors were found by a store employee in a statement shared on Monday (August 19). The cancelations and delays took place as many travelers were attempting to return home following Japan's annual Bon Holidays.

“I don't think we have any choice (but to wait),” one traveller told local media via BBC.com . “But I do hope they are bit more careful about it.”

So many things to worry about these days… it never ends. And I don't feel safe until I get home," another traveler added.

New Chitose is one of Japan's busiest airports with more than 15 million travelers reported in 2022, according to BBC.com .